This week has been the traditional holiday that follows the
month-long fast of Ramazan called Şeker Bayramı –
şeker (pron: sheh- care) literally means sugar or sweet so when local children
come knocking on your door to wish you a Happy Bayram – İyi Bayramlar! – you give
them candy. We on the other hand have received little plates of homemade baklava
from the neighbours around us as well as güllaç, another traditional dessert
associated with this holiday.
summer fruit cake with blackberries |
I made a cake last Saturday as SIL and some of his and Daughter No
2’s friends were coming down from Istanbul for this weeklong national holiday. I actually love baking but haven’t been able
to do much this summer. This doesn’t mean that amongst all those eggplants or
aubergines that I have been cooking, we haven’t longed for something sweet
ourselves!
2’s friends were coming down from Istanbul for this weeklong national holiday. I actually love baking but haven’t been able
to do much this summer. This doesn’t mean that amongst all those eggplants or
aubergines that I have been cooking, we haven’t longed for something sweet
ourselves!
with peaches |
When I saw this recipe for a summer fruit cake in the latest
BBC Good Food Magazine, I just had to try it. You can use any fruit you like so
I have now actually made it twice, first with peaches and then with
blackberries. Turkish blackberries are not great but peaches are surefire
winners. Literally use whatever fruit you fancy.
BBC Good Food Magazine, I just had to try it. You can use any fruit you like so
I have now actually made it twice, first with peaches and then with
blackberries. Turkish blackberries are not great but peaches are surefire
winners. Literally use whatever fruit you fancy.
I recommend eating this cake while still warm out of the
oven with a scoop of vanilla icecream on the side!
oven with a scoop of vanilla icecream on the side!
Ingredients
Cuts into 8
175g/6oz very soft
butter, plus extra for greasing
butter, plus extra for greasing
175g/6oz golden
caster sugar(I used regular granulated sugar/toz şeker)
caster sugar(I used regular granulated sugar/toz şeker)
250g/9oz self-raising
flour OR use plain flour + 2 ¼ tsp baking powder
flour OR use plain flour + 2 ¼ tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
175g/6oz fruit,
stoned and diced weight (apricots, blackberries, blueberries, nectarines,
peaches, plums, raspberries, redcurrants or blackcurrants, strawberries)
stoned and diced weight (apricots, blackberries, blueberries, nectarines,
peaches, plums, raspberries, redcurrants or blackcurrants, strawberries)
140g/5oz granulated
sugar
sugar
1-2 tbsp citrus juice
– lemon, lime or orange
– lemon, lime or orange
Method
·
Heat oven to 180°C/160°fan/gas 4.
Heat oven to 180°C/160°fan/gas 4.
lining the tin |
·
Grease a 900g/2lb loaf tin and *line the base
and ends with a long strip of baking parchment. Put the butter, sugar, flour
(plus baking powder if using), eggs and vanilla extract into a large bowl and
beat with an electric hand mixer for 5 mins until pale and creamy – the mixture
will be very thick.
Grease a 900g/2lb loaf tin and *line the base
and ends with a long strip of baking parchment. Put the butter, sugar, flour
(plus baking powder if using), eggs and vanilla extract into a large bowl and
beat with an electric hand mixer for 5 mins until pale and creamy – the mixture
will be very thick.
my peaches |
·
Spread
1/3 of the cake mix into the tin,
then scatter over 50g of the fruit. Carefully dot and spread another third of
the cake mix on top, and scatter with another 50g fruit. Finally dot the rest
of the cake mix over and gently spread with the back of a spoon.
Spread
1/3 of the cake mix into the tin,
then scatter over 50g of the fruit. Carefully dot and spread another third of
the cake mix on top, and scatter with another 50g fruit. Finally dot the rest
of the cake mix over and gently spread with the back of a spoon.
layering the fruit with the mixture |
·
Bake for 1 hr, until an inserted skewer comes
out clean. THIS IS IMPORTANT! ıf the cake is still not cooked through but the top is browning too fast, simply cover with a double layer of cooking foil.
Bake for 1 hr, until an inserted skewer comes
out clean. THIS IS IMPORTANT! ıf the cake is still not cooked through but the top is browning too fast, simply cover with a double layer of cooking foil.
·
Poke the cake all over with a skewer. Put
remaining 75g fruit into a bowl with the granulated sugar. Stir in 1 tbsp of
the citrus juice first with a fork, mashing a little of the fruit as you go. If
it’s a bit dry, add a splash more juice and spooon over the cake. Leave in the
tin until the cake is cool and the topping is set and crisp.
Poke the cake all over with a skewer. Put
remaining 75g fruit into a bowl with the granulated sugar. Stir in 1 tbsp of
the citrus juice first with a fork, mashing a little of the fruit as you go. If
it’s a bit dry, add a splash more juice and spooon over the cake. Leave in the
tin until the cake is cool and the topping is set and crisp.
Tips
1.
*Lining the tin with the baking parchment in
this way is very useful as it enables you to safely remove the cake without it
breaking. It’s easy to do, too!
*Lining the tin with the baking parchment in
this way is very useful as it enables you to safely remove the cake without it
breaking. It’s easy to do, too!
2.
The mixture will indeed be very thick. The
recipe uses the words ‘dot and spread’ and that is correct. Don’t worry if it
doesn’t quite meet the edges as it will all come together while baking.
The mixture will indeed be very thick. The
recipe uses the words ‘dot and spread’ and that is correct. Don’t worry if it
doesn’t quite meet the edges as it will all come together while baking.
3. My baking tin was bigger than the specified size so the second time I made this cake I increased everything by half. It worked beautifully as you can see!
Try it for tea – it’s delicious!
Afiyet Olsun!
Fruit cake..my favourite.Fantatsic ..so full of fruit:)
Hi Dzoli! thanks for your warm comment!
Mutlu Bayramlar Claudia:):)
What beautiful looking – and I am sure tasting- cakes, loved to see all the fruit in it:)
sevgiler,
Ozlem
Hi Özlem! Nice to have you back! I hope you have had a good summer and also bayram. Are you home now? Glad you like this cake!
Your cake looks tasty. I wouldn't mind a slice with some blackberries or peaches right now, warm please!
You have awards on my blog..deserved;)
This looks beautiful – might have to try it this week 🙂